Author's Note, Historical Note, Chronology Summary

In the Author's Note, the author describes the stories her grandmother would tell of the desolate life she had led in Cuba. War had all but destroyed the landscape and any hope for the future. Although there was much destruction and sadness, the author also describes the love and joyfulness that still existed and exists today. She describes the hope that was felt by her great-grandmother, who was young during the wars for independence and the hope that is felt by her cousin Milagros' young children.

In the Historical Note, the only truly fictional characters are Silvia and the man who drives the oxcart. The other characters are historical figures and a part of Cuban history. Although Rosa and Jose were famous for their hospitals, very little is known about their daily lives, so the...